The following Monday, after her prescribed bed rest, Maya was picked up by Cristi to be taken to university. Her first class: Anatomy. She was terrified at the thought of coming face to face with Alex.
To her surprise, he apologized, claiming he didn't know what had come over him. Maya glanced sideways at Cristi. He was staring at Alex and looked ready to explode at any second. He kept his eyes fixed on him, without blinking. He was watching over her. That was when it clicked. She knew exactly what had come over Alex: an angry Cristi.
Maya accepted Alex's apology, but also told him that, apart from the scheduled meetings for working on the project—which, at Cristi's request, would take place in the university library, with him acting as a bodyguard—they had nothing else to say to each other. He abused her, and she refused to play the role of a victim. She had gotten through the doctor-mandated rest period without complications, but things could have been much worse. So she chose to keep as much distance as possible.
Two hours later, while Maya and Cristi were at the university, Bogdan and Diana returned from Băile Felix. After settling Diana into his room, Bogdan called his brother.
-Cristi, where are you?
-Hi to you too. I'm in the university library, keeping an eye on your girlfriend. What's up?
-What do you mean, keeping an eye on her? Did something happen?
-Relax. She's working on a project. I don't know if I told you, but the guy who abused her and caused the concussion is her new partner for the anatomy project. I tried to take his place, but it easn't successful. So I told her the only way I'd allow her to work with him is if I was present too. Sounds reasonable to me.
-Did you go to the rector?
-Yes, Bogdan. Don't worry. I explained the situation, and luckily for us, the library is equipped with three surveillance cameras. One of them caught the incident. I watched the footage together with the rector. He shoved her pretty hard before smashing her head into that shelf. The camera recorded everything.
-And what does the rector think?
-He apologized. For now, nothing has been made public, but he assured me that once the situation is presented to the Council, Alex will be expelled without the right to re-enroll.
-That's more like it.
-And you? Are you back from Băile Felix?
-Yes, we just got home. I sent Diana upstairs to lie down for a bit. She's very weak.
-Has she seen a doctor?
-Cristi… I think we need to talk.
-About?
-Can we meet at Moccha Flavour in an hour?
-An hour and a half. I'll take Maya home first. For safety.
-I'll be waiting.
*
Cristi slipped his phone back into his pocket. What could be so urgent that it couldn't wait until he got home? Or did Bogdan want no one else to know what he was about to say? He didn't understand, but he was waiting to meet his brother.
At the agreed time, Cristi walked into Moccha Flavour. He spotted Bogdan sitting at the bar, sipping a Pepsi. He looked lost in thoughts. Cristi joined him and sat down on the stool to his brother's left, greeting him with a smile. At that moment, Bogdan stood up.
-Let's find a private table. We need to talk privately, and I don't want anyone overhearing us.
Once seated at the table, Bogdan finally spoke freely.
-Cristi, I know you love Diana.
-Really? Cristi smiled. He had never told his brother anything like that. Either Bogdan had figured it out on his own, or Diana had said something. And anyway, at least lately, he had been trying to avoid Diana. Why was Bogdan saying this now?
-Don't pretend. I figured it out. And while we were away, Diana told me that, in a way, it's a shame she didn't end up with you the first time. I know her hormones are pushing her to come on to me constantly, but it seems to me she'd rather have you instead of me.
Cristi said nothing. Instead, he thought it was time to have a paternity test done for Diana's baby. It was necessary. He couldn't endure the uncertainty any longer. He wanted to know if the child was his. And if it turned out to be true, then Bogdan would simply have to go on with his life starting next semester. He would acknowledge the child.
-Cristi, Diana has a doctor's appointment next Tuesday. Could you go with her?
-What are you doing in the meantime?
-Watching over Maya.
-Fine.
He planned to have an ultrasound and lab tests done, and that was when he would ask Diana to take a paternity test as well. The only girl he had never told Bogdan he had slept with was Diana. And he didn't have the heart to tell him now. He wanted to protect her at all costs, because she was the only person who had ever truly reached his heart. And that would remain true whether she ended up with his brother or with him.